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City Manager Unfiltered

News & Politics Podcasts

City Manager Unfiltered is a podcast by a city manager for city managers. I am your host, Joe Turner, and I’m on a mission to build a community for ambitious city managers. I want to provide you with the career tools and resources to help make you a better executive so you can rack up victories, polish your resume, dominate interviews, land your dream job, and win your contract negotiations. If you are a city manager looking to level up, check out my podcast, City Manager Unfiltered. Hit that subscribe button today so you don’t miss an episode.

Location:

United States

Description:

City Manager Unfiltered is a podcast by a city manager for city managers. I am your host, Joe Turner, and I’m on a mission to build a community for ambitious city managers. I want to provide you with the career tools and resources to help make you a better executive so you can rack up victories, polish your resume, dominate interviews, land your dream job, and win your contract negotiations. If you are a city manager looking to level up, check out my podcast, City Manager Unfiltered. Hit that subscribe button today so you don’t miss an episode.

Language:

English

Contact:

316-880-9646


Episodes
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Announcing Sam Toles' New Social Media Course for Elected Officials | Ep. 130

10/29/2025
Are your elected officials overreacting to negative comments and criticism on social media? Tired of watching them get spun up by a handful of keyboard warriors living in their mother's basement? Then you need to enroll your elected officials in Sam Toles' new social media training course for elected officials. He is the social media master and a former council member. Lean on his experience and expertise to show your governing body how to analyze and assess the social media landscape. SHOW NOTES Sam Toles' LinkedIn profile Link to CiviSocial website Link to Sam Toles' New Book: The Social Media Playbook For Local Elected Officials Link to the AAME discount for the CiviSocial Social Medial Training for Elected Officials Link to CiviSocial's DeepFake Program Link to CiviSocial's Referendum Ready Program Sam previously appeared on the following episodes: Episode 67: Your City is Doing Social Media Wrong Episode 68: Keyboard Warriors & Social Media Terrorists Episode 108: Social Media Training for Elected Officials with Sam Toles Claim your FREE copy of "The Social Media Playbook for City & County Managers" at this link: https://civisocial.com/the-social-media-playbook AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:57:39

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BEWARE: Bait & Switch in Valley Center, KS City Administrator Recruitment | Ep. 129

10/22/2025
In this episode, I call out what I believe to be unethical and deceitful practices by the the city of Valley Center, Kansas in their current search for a new city administrator. The have posted on LinkedIn that the salary range for their next administrator is $115,000 to $200,000. However, their original job postings that are still visible on various job boards listed a salary of range of $105,000 to $145,000. And just two weeks ago they passed a salary ordinance that set the salary range for the city administrator at a maximum of $171,000 and the current city administrator who has been there for six years is only making $152,000. It appears they are attempting to bait candidates to apply with the new exaggerated and unattainable salary range so that they can lowball the finalist. AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:40:24

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Small Town City Manager Love Affair with Halley Roberson | Ep. 128

10/15/2025
Beloit City Manager Halley Roberson is one of my favorite interviews of all-time and I am pretty sure that most of you will enjoy it, too. She is absolutely hilarious and I am glad I drove the two plus hours to meet her. In this episode, we discuss our mutual love for small town city management, especially in Kansas, and the opportunities it presents for aspiring public sector executives. We also talk about the challenges a city manager will face and need to adjust to in order to be successful. If you are a department head or feel trapped in management analyst land and you have aspirations of becoming a city manager, you should give this episode a listen to help determine if a small, rural community is a good "next step" for you. SHOW NOTES: Link to Halley Roberson's LinkedIn profile AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:01:16:12

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Chris Mann: Knowing Your Why & Being Prepared to Execute | Ep. 127

10/8/2025
Chris Mann's journey to the city manager's chair was a circuitous, non-traditional one. The California city manager started his journey as a city councilman in his early 20s and would later go on to start his own public relations firm which heavily focused on local government issues and land development. He would then launch a a successful political action committee that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars each election cycle. In this episode, we talk about the "why" behind his journey and an aspect that many are simply unprepared for. We also discuss the reasons behind the city podcast he launched when he was the city manager in Yucaipa, California. He explains the funding source he used to pay for the equipment and we kick around an idea that many cities and counties may want to consider implementing so that they can help their residents develop their own voice in our rapidly evolving digital economy. SHOW NOTES: Links to Chris Mann's LinkedIn profile and Gov360 Podcast AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:01:02:37

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The Black City Manager: A New Series with Troy Body | Ep. 126

10/1/2025
For many months, I have been trying to coax and cajole Troy Body into starting his own podcast or at the very least becoming a regular, recurring guest on my podcast. I have wanted to provide a platform for the Hopkinsville, Kentucky city manager and give him a voice. He has interesting perspectives and opinions you will not find anywhere else regarding local government and city management and he often shares these "hot takes" on the "Black City Managers" LinkedIn page. The plan is to roll out a series of interviews with Troy so that he can get a sense of whether he would like to do his own podcast and help him build a pre-launch audience if he decides to venture out on his own. Building listenership for a podcast is incredibly difficult. If you enjoy this new series, please let us know by going to BlackCityManagers.org and leaving a comment. SHOW NOTES: The LinkedIn page for "Black City Managers" Website for "Black City Managers" Troy Body's LinkedIn profile AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:56:37

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Blaine Oborn: Persecuted Because of My LDS Faith | Ep. 125

9/23/2025
For nearly 20 years, Blaine Oborn had an unblemished record as a city manager serving in multiple states. That all changed when he became the city administrator in Oak Harbor, Washington. He assumed his duties as the city was at the very tail end of a wastewater plant project that had tripled in costs from $50 million to $150 million under the leadership of Cathy Rosen, the public works director. She would go on to level unsubstantiated accusations that masked her religious bigotry toward Blaine, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. These claims were embellish and exaggerated by the publisher of the local paper. She had previously applied for a job with the city and was rejected by Oborn. These horrible, baseless accusations have been amplified in newspaper articles, tainted his Google footprint, and severely hurt him in job searches. In this episode, he seeks to set the record straight and repair the damage done to his reputation. SHOW NOTES: Blaine Oborn's LinkedIn profile AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:54:32

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Lessons From the Death of My Father with Joe Dessenberger | Ep. 124

9/17/2025
Joe Dessenberger grew up with a father who worked seven days a week until he died rather suddenly after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 62. His father had a vision of what his life would be like in retirement, but never got to enjoy it. In this emotionally charged episode, we discuss the indelible influence of his father's journey through life and how that has shaped his mindset. Additionally, we discuss the sobering impact of his heart attack at the age of 51 and how these life experiences govern his thinking with respect to retirement and spending time with the people he loves most. It is my belief that everyone who listens to this episode will gain something of value from it. SHOW NOTES: Joe Dessenberger's LinkedIn profile AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:01:05:52

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Paul Sanftner Needs Your Help with His Brilliant Public Safety Idea | Ep. 123

9/9/2025
San Leandro Public Information Officer Paul Sanftner has a fantastic public safety idea that would help local government agencies during emergencies and save lives. But he needs your help! He is trying to persuade YouTube to add an emergency alert feature to their platform so that authorities can communicate important life-saving messages during natural disasters, civil disturbances, and other serious events that pose a danger to life and property. Our emergency alert systems are a step behind the technological advances that have fragmented how news is disseminated and consumed. Please give this episode a listen and more importantly sign his letter of support and share it with other public sector executives. SHOW NOTES: Paul Sanftner's LinkedIn Profile Sign on as a signatory to his letter of support here Check Out Paul's YouTube Video where he talks about this "Super Commute" AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:43:25

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Swingers Edition: Unhinged & Crazy in Rehoboth Beach | Ep. 122

9/3/2025
Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Suzanne Goode dropped 10 voicemail messages on her city manager in the span of 24 hours demanding that he edit or unpublish an official public meeting from their YouTube account. Why? Because another commissioner publicly shamed her for being toxic and abusive toward fellow commissioners and staff at a subcommittee meeting to discuss a Civility in the Workplace policy after she was outed for suggesting the city manager was they mayor's whore. In these voicemail messages, which we share with you to listen for yourself, Goode argues she was slandered and defamed and suggests she may sue. That is -- when she is not getting cut off by the recording a la Jon Favreau's character in Swingers. AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:48:30

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Star Wars, Tattoos & Community Engagement with Jeff Fiegenschuh | Ep. 121

8/27/2025
In this powerful episode, Jeff Fiegenschuh talks about his approach to community engagement, connecting with staff, and building relationships with his elected officials as the city manager for Rochelle, Illinois. What prompted my desire to interview Jeff was the fact that he contributes a monthly column to his local paper and I believe most executives fail to take advantage of this effective technique to connect with residents, showcase the work of staff, and elevate the standing of their elected officials. Jeff also sits down for regular interviews with the local radio station and encourages his staff to participate in interviews with the radio station, too. While discussing his love for Star Wars, tattoos, and the Boston Red Sox, Jeff also touches on how important it is for public sector executives to have a life and an identity outside of work. SHOW NOTES Link to Jeff Fiegenschuh's LinkedIn profile AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:01:03:33

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It's Time to Rate & Review the Recruiters | Ep. 120

8/20/2025
In a couple of months, the American Association of Municipal Executives will be launching an online directory that will allow candidates to rate and review executive recruiters and recruitment firms. Under the current system, there is no mechanism or vehicle in place to give candidates a voice or to allow their concerns to be raised or addressed. By creating this directory, the AAME will be able to communicate the concerns of its members to HR directors and elected officials as they go through the RFP process and help influence their decision making process. The ultimate goal is to help create a recruitment process that compels the recruiters to treat candidates better and punish those that do not give the candidates the respect and professional courtesy they deserve. SHOW NOTES Link to fundraiser and benefit auction Facebook page for Roxton, Texas city manager Janet Wheeler. Flyer includes QR code for Venmo donations being collected by Monica Helm or you can Venmo here: @monicahelm Link to GiveSendGo fundraiser for Scott Whitaker's legal fund. He is the former town manager for Summerfield, North Carolina. AAME MEMBERSHIP: To join the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), sign up at this link: https://community.aame.org/ AAME JOB BOARD: The AAME has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:39:55

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City Manager Launches CityOrdinanceAI for Local Governments | Ep. 119

8/13/2025
Perry City Manager Nathan Read wanted to make it easier for residents to decipher the legalese of city ordinances and codes. So with the help of his best friend and business partner, they built CityOrdinanceAI and are now offering it up as a product for other city managers and local governments to purchase. In this episode, we talk about his journey from Utah to Oklahoma to accept his first gig as a city manager, the role housing costs played in his decision, and the trials and tribulations of seeking to raise water rates by 70% during his first 18-months in the position. If you are a government employee with a side hustle or project that you would like to share with my audience, please get in touch. I love using my platform to help others achieve their goals. SHOW NOTES Nathan Read's LinkedIn Page CityOrdinanceAI.com Perry, Oklahoma website AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:37:02

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Celebrating the Death of Baker Tilly - Now What? | Ep. 118

8/6/2025
On Friday, Baker Tilly Executive Recruitment announced they were going out of business. It was the culmination of two years worth of work highlighting their poor treatment of candidates and mediocre work product. It all started in July 2023 when I published my first podcast episode about the Canfield, Ohio search. Just a few months earlier, Baker Tilly had purchased Management Partners out of Ohio and were seemingly expanding their dominance in the local government sector. Back then I had fewer than 500 followers and Baker Tilly appeared too big to fail and I was out of mind to even think of publicly criticizing one of the largest recruitment firms in the game. While I am happy to have engineered their collapse -- now what? SHOW NOTES Previous episodes about Baker Tilly: What the hell is going on in Canfield, Ohio? | Ep. 06 Who will hold Baker Tilly and other recruiters accountable? | Ep. 09 Baker Tilly Hides Dirty Secret from Hutchinson City Manager Candidates Baker Tilly Gets Embarrassed in Deltona, Florida | Ep. 25 AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:50:59

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BREAKING: Horrific Details in PFA Issued Against La Marque Councilman Joseph Lowry | Ep. 117

7/30/2025
Some shocking details concerning La Marque Councilman Joseph Lowry surfaced this week. Hayley Winkelmann is leading the effort to recall the controversial official and she shared some court records with the podcast. On July 24th, Lowry's ex-wife obtained a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order in the State of Washington. The court found her claims credible and they are horrific. Additionally, Winkelmann located official documents indicating that Lowry may be ineligible to hold office because he has multiple felony convictions. You can find links to these documents in the show notes below. SHOW NOTES Link to Hayley Winkelmann's Facebook Page Link to her Recall Joseph Lowry Facebook page Protection Order (Domestic Violence) Against Joseph Lowry Joseph Lowry's Candidate for Public Office Form Mention of Joseph Lowry's 1997 Felony Theft Conviction AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:44:31

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Arson, Stolen Valor, and an Arrest in La Marque with Reporter TJ Aulds | Ep. 116

7/23/2025
Authorities arrested the former city manager for La Marque, Texas on Saturday. A warrant for the arrest of J.B. Pritchett had been issued about a week prior on charges related to felony arson and tampering with evidence and misdemeanor charges related to allegedly lying about his education and military service on his job applications and resume. In this episode, i45Now reporter T.J. Aulds discusses what he has found during his investigative reporting on the matter, including an examination of Pritchett's resumes and applications, as well as a detailed breakdown of the probable cause affidavits submitted by authorities. Pritchett has been released on a $90,000 bond and is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. SHOW NOTES TJ Aulds' LinkedIn Profile i45Now Facebook Page AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:47:56

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What is going on in La Marque with Reporter TJ Aulds | Ep. 115

7/16/2025
This week a warrant was issued for the arrest of former La Marque city manager, J.B. Pritchett. He is facing five charges, of which two are felonies. How in the hell did we get here? To an outsider, the small Texas town of La Marque seems like a chaotic, toxic mess. Many people point their fingers at a councilman by the name of Joseph Lowry who has a brash, combative, and in your face style that rubs many the wrong way. Originally from the state of Washington where he served time in prison for distribution of methamphetamines, and fancies himself a "citizen journalist." He filed a complaint with his police department about Pritchett, accusing him of lying on his application about his education and military service. In this episode, i45Now reporter T.J. Aulds breaks down the backstory and Lowry's history. Next week, we will delve into the specific issues surrounding the charges facing Pritchett. SHOW NOTES TJ Aulds' LinkedIn Profile i45Now Facebook Page AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:58:45

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The City Manager's Guide to Contract Negotiations | Ep. 114

7/9/2025
In this episode, I share a personal update about my legal matters and mental health. I also tease the release of my new book called: The City Manager's Guide to Contract Negotiations. AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:21:56

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Challenges Facing Next Sacramento City Manager with Jeff Harris | Ep. 113

7/2/2025
Former Sacramento Councilman Jeff Harris returns to the show to discuss the challenges facing the next city manager. Harris served on the council from 2014-2022 and writes regular columns about the machinations of City Hall. In Part 1, he defended the record of former city manager, Howard Chan. This week, we take a deep dive into the organization itself to give prospective candidates and curious onlookers the inside scoop. SHOW NOTES Jeff Harris' LinkedIn Profile AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:00:57:02

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Sacramento Councilman Jeff Harris: In Defense of Howard Chan | Ep. 112

6/25/2025
Got a unique episode this week. Former Sacramento Councilman Jeff Harris comes on the show to defend his former city manager, Howard Chan. Harris served on the council from 2014-2022 and was on the council when Chan was selected to lead their community. He knows the ins-and-outs of Sacramento politics and the truth behind the motives and machinations of the key players. Most importantly, he knows Chan's record and his accomplishments. Over the last two years or so, Howard has been savagely attacked and denigrated by members of his governing body and columnists at the Sacramento Bee. Though I have made some impassioned statements Howard's defense, most notable in Episode 106, I am admittedly biased. Jeff sat down with me to clear up the record when it comes to all the smears and dishonest attacks leveled against Howard. Do not miss this one! SHOW NOTES Jeff Harris' LinkedIn Profile AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:01:06:55

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We Carry the Trauma to Our Next Job with Tim Rundel | Ep. 111

6/18/2025
We continue our conversation with the always entertaining Tim Rundel in this second installment. Tim has not just seen a thing or two, he has personally endured some incredibly challenging and professionally traumatic situations. In this powerful episode, he talks about how we as city managers carry the trauma of abuse and betrayal to our next position and that it is quite easy to become "gun shy" or lose your self-confidence. He opens the interview by recounting a conversation with a peer who has recently experienced a couple of brutal and extremely short tenures. And toward the end of the conversation Tim talks about how we as executives need to value ourselves and appreciate our worth. He says "we're the cookie" and we should not be giving it away. If you did not get a chance to catch my first interview with Tim way back in Episode 8 of the podcast, it is a must listen. It is one of the funniest interviews I have ever done and in it we talk about his efforts to get a sitcom about a small town city manager made a la The Office Space. You can check that out here: https://www.citymanagerunfiltered.com/e/city-of-weed-sitcom-about-city-manager-life-tim-rundel-ep-08/ SHOW NOTES Tim Rundel's LinkedIn Profile Links to Tim's Documentaries: Brother Valentine: Producer/Director An Oklahoma family is ripped apart after their 15-year-old son brutally murders his older sister in 1974. Controversy swirls around the case after his parents decide to hire a prominent defense attorney to keep him out of jail. https://vimeo.com/147941222 Calls to Okies: The Park Grubbs Story. Executive Producer. In the early 1980's a group of Oklahoma teenagers mastered the art of prank phone calls and became legends. : https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/10/03/park-grubbs-story/ The B'CATS (Bryan County Alternative Transportation Society): Producer/Director Venturing into the lives of a peculiar subculture in southern Oklahoma, a former city manager encounters a group of locals who have found an unconventional means of transportation through the use of riding lawn mowers. https://youtu.be/VCuR7oWVYVQ AAME Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh AAME JOB BOARD: The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: City Manager News & Job Boardhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/"Buy Me A Coffee" link Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today! Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Duration:01:03:10